The Stone Giant Proposal

 

28th of Coldeven

Before the party encounters the monster Corrin says, “These mines are pretty small and crudely made. I wish I was shorter.”

The party all hear the scrape of a boot on the floor behind.. Looking around they see Poet and Tulin crouched (well Poet crouching) in the passage behind.. The elf smiles, "A guide may be helpful.. at least for the area we know.. Yea?" She looks about with a frown, "These passages are quite.. clean.. no rubble.. strange."

“How is it strange? Wouldn’t the gnomes try to keep the passages clean?” Corrin asks

"Perhaps our time for chatter is later." Vencer says and goes to aid Irakul

Skrit spared a nod to Tulin for a moment, and ponders Poet’s words for hardly a few seconds, before noticing Vencer moving up, and he moves to join in assisting Irakul

Our heroes are engaged with a rocky mass with multiple tendrils which have pulled up Irakul the Echo warrior. Battling the creature, the party use magic, missiles and more many of the attacks deflect off its rocky hide but in the end, the creature is destroyed with minimal damage to the party it's hide was tough to cut through. The ecohing clang of a hammer on stone or metal continues..

After some gruesome dissecting the party acquires a variety of the 'eye' like pods which seem to be a
quartz or possible ebony or other rock. A body is found in the gullet and some items and treasure are acquired. There are two kobold bodies found, which brings a sadness to the mute Tulin. Skrit does a ceremony for both and the kobold nods appreciatively to Skrit. After that, Tulin carries the two bodies out, while Poet continues with the party. A VERY large metal key is found with the body. Armband of splendour (bonus to charisma based skills) as well as a Mage's Shoulder Holster for spellbooks.

With the enemy vanquished, and now with Poet and Tulin - the mute kobold - guidance, the party is able to determine the best route forward to find the giant. Still the area is very clean, no rubble or dust. Bypassing a number of passages, the heroes explore forth finding some stairs. This is a somewhat surprise as the passages had looked to be possibly natural up to now.

Pyra investigates and finds some markings, which look to be in an combined dwarvish and gnomish dialect. After further dialogue Vencer casts comprehend languages.. it seems that the words and
numbers may be names and number for a location of the level. 

The party heads down the stairs down into the dark.. the stairs seem to be made for much smaller creatures - gnomes? - so that passage is narrow and low for most of the party. After travelling probably about 20 flights of stairs. All the areas is surprisingly clean still. At the end of the long stairs down, the party sees ahead an entryway - no door. Passing through this, they feel like a heat wave from ahead - not uncomfortable just very warm. The

heroes come into a vast room, the ceilings are high - over 30 feet up. The ceiling and floor flagstones are carved and engraved with spirals. At this point the hammering has stopped and the party can hear the whoosh of possibly a furnace or bellows. Some discussion on whom goes first then.. 

Finally Pyra and Skrit scuttle forward stealthily. Using excellent team tactics, the party moves forward. Making it up to the very large stone door - 20 feet high - the party decides to try and parley with the giant (?) or whomever is on the other side of the massive door.

Prepared, Irakul, uses his echo knight to hammer on the door. A tremble goes through the ground as footsteps approach the door. and without a a sound the door opens an a massive form stands there. A stone giant. The giant has spirals tattooed over his body, similar to the ones on the flagstones and ceiling. A tense moment and then..

Irakul - fortunately has some ancestral relationship to Stone giants and is able to speak to the giant - his name is Shraxin. After some parley, an agreement is struck. It seems there are these small elemental creatures that have taken over some of the lower levels of the mines and the giant's smaller brother - Treggin.- had gone exploring as he was smaller. He has not come back and the elementals a very annoying group of
creatures of seemingly mud, steam, smoke and ice.. possibly have him trapped in the lower levels. They destroy the great works the stone giant creates. Shraxin is too large to go down there. Sharxin agrees that if they rescue his brother, the giant will fight the main clan of kobolds with the heroes.

Agreement struck, then discussion on trade happens. Corrin offers up the quartz black rock brings Shraxin to a rage - it seems the rock creature the party killed is a pet of the giant. The giant grabs out to Corrin but misses. Seemingly like a cat or dog, except it cleans the rooms and passages. Fortunately, with Irakul the goliath's input, the giant is appeased.  The party notes another of the large rock like creatures.

After some further discussion, the party is offered a room to rest - seemingly a gnomish sleeping chamber or barracks with even a spring. The parry broaches the subject of trade, and as the party rests, they discuss some possible offers.. after a short rest the party will venture forth.

The giant shows the group a passage way with a large barred stone door Sharzin put in place. This is the way to the lower levels where Treggin went, and the annoying elementals dwell.